Rhythm of the Beat
By MARI NAKANO
Rafu Contributor
Saturday, July 1, 2006

Can you hear it?  There’s a new vibrant energy stirring in good ol’ Los Angeles full of taiko drums, hip hop grooves, whistles, flutes, fluttering sky-high banners, rain sticks, gourds, conch shells and talented performers both young and old. All this and more will be invading Hollywood on Saturday, July 8 at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, and you’re not going to want to miss out. 

Since 2000, TaikoProject has performed frequently at community events. Here they pose in front of the Japanese American National Museum.

The nationally and internationally renowned TAIKOPROJECT along with sister groups Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko and UCLA’s Yukai Daiko will be joining together for their first major collaborative production, “TAIKOPROJECT: Rhythmic Relations 2006.” TAIKOPROJECT is a young ensemble of America’s premiere and emerging taiko drummers. They were founded in 2000, and in just a few short years have managed to take the art of taiko into a whole new realm. They have had numerous cross-cultural collaborations with artists such as klezmer clarinetist Leo Cheylyapov, Vietnamese pop singer Bao Han, Chicano rock band Quetzal, and internationally acclaimed European DJ Tiesto.

Members of Bombu Taiko rehearse at Higashi Honganji for a new song to be premiered at Rhythmic Relations 2006.

Members also were featured in the 2005 Mitsubishi Motors of North America’s National Ad Campaign “Taiko Drums,” which became one of the highest rated commercials of 2005.  In the fall of 2005, TAIKOPROJECT made history by becoming not only the first American taiko group to compete at the Annual Tokyo International Taiko Contest, but also the first international group to take home the top prize in the Adult Group category. What is even more striking about TAIKOPROJECT is their tight connection to the community.

They’re dedicated to disseminating the American taiko tradition, educating and working closely with their sister groups Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko and UCLA’s Yukai Daiko.

Aside from their own weekly practices, TAIKOPROJECT members spend time instructing their sister group classes and arranging more concentrated workshops to supplement their growth.  They encourage camaraderie and a familial atmosphere through things like drum-building sessions, post practice dinners and holiday socials.

Bombu and Kitsune Taiko are two of the sister groups that stem from Little Tokyo’s Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple. Bombu Taiko, the adult group, was named by the temple’s reverend, Rinban Noriaki Ito. Bombu roughly translates as “ordinary people” or the “unenlightened masses,” and the group is organized around the philosophy that emphasizes transcending the individual’s ego in order to experience the joy of playing together. Kitsune Taiko, the youth group, is named after the mysterious and mischievous fox, or kitsune, that is popular in Japanese folklore. UCLA’s Yukai Daiko is a collegiate taiko group that was formed with the guidance of TAIKOPROJECT members Yuta Kato and Michelle Fujii. Yukai means “cheerful” or “happy” in Japanese, and the meaning reflects the spirit of the group.

“TAIKOPROJECT: Rhythmic Relations 2006” will be an astounding performance of these four closely-knit groups. This performance is a reflection of the evolution of taiko in American history, and is also a celebration of the diversity of the taiko culture right here in Los Angeles and throughout the nation.

The groups have been practicing hard all year, preparing for you an evening that will get you bopping in your seat. If you’ve heard taiko before, this won’t be your typical experience.

TAIKOPROJECT will be causing a lively ruckus in Hollywood, and contemplating too long about attending would be out of the question. Their performance is only a few weeks away, but the box office has been receiving orders from the moment they released the tickets a few months ago.

“TAIKOPROJECT: Rhythmic Relations 2006” is on Saturday, July 8, 8 p.m., at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, across from the Hollywood Bowl.  Tickets can be purchased through the Ford’s website at www.FordAmphitheatre.org or by calling the Ford’s Box Office at (323) 461-3673. You can also receive more information about the TAIKOPROJECT and their upcoming concert at www.TAIKOPROJECT.org/ RR2006.